Information technology (IT) equipment positioning system

ABSTRACT

An information technology (IT) equipment positioning system comprises a plurality of wireless transponders distributed in multiple locations in the data center and a controller. The controller is adapted to operate the transponders using triangulation to identify and detect positioning according to three-dimensional coordinates for wireless-tagged IT equipment located in the data center.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Resource management involves awareness and monitoring of resources in adynamic environment. Location is one component of awareness.

A data center may be considered a collection of many types of resources,often highly valuable resources. Data center resources are not limitedsimply to various types of electronic equipment, but also data andinformation resources which can potentially have a value exceeding thatof the physical assets.

Data center personnel address a growing challenge in management ofmultiple systems and other information technology equipment in a largedata center. Information technology (IT) equipment may be redeployed orphysically moved without the knowledge of data center managementpersonnel, presenting difficulty in locating the equipment for repairand upgrade. Difficulties are especially prevalent for data centers inremote offices and unmanned sites.

SUMMARY

In accordance with an embodiment of a system for usage in a data center,an information technology (IT) equipment positioning system comprises aplurality of wireless transponders distributed in multiple locations inthe data center and a controller. The controller is adapted to operatethe transponders using triangulation to identify and detect positioningaccording to three-dimensional coordinates for wireless-tagged ITequipment located in the data center.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention relating to both structure and method ofoperation may best be understood by referring to the followingdescription and accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic pictorial diagram illustrating an embodiment of aninformation technology (IT) equipment positioning system for usage in adata center;

FIG. 2 is a schematic pictorial diagram depicting an embodiment of aninformation technology (IT) equipment positioning system including atransponder mounted on a robot;

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram showing an embodiment of a radiofrequency identification (RFID)-enabled electronic device;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are flow charts illustrating embodiments of methods formapping information technology (IT) equipment in a data center;

FIG. 5 is a schematic data structure diagram depicting an embodiment ofa database which can be used to store data relating to informationtechnology (IT) equipment in a data center;

FIG. 6 is a schematic pictorial diagram illustrating a perspective viewof a data center that implements an illustrative resource monitoringsystem adapted to map information technology (IT) equipment; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic pictorial diagram showing an embodiment of aresource mapping system including a transponder system implemented in adata center rack.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An illustrative resource management system for usage in a data centercontext is configured to track information technology (IT) equipmentwith electronic tags using wireless technologies to identify locationand size of the equipment. In a particular embodiment, radio frequencyidentification (RFID) and Global Positioning System (GPS) technologiesmay be used to track IT assets.

Some embodiments may combine wireless tracking of location and equipmentsize with asset labeling using Telcordia™ command line interface (CLI)codes, thereby increasing functionality.

Referring to FIG. 1, a schematic pictorial diagram illustrates anembodiment of an information technology (IT) equipment positioningsystem 100 for usage in a data center 102 that comprises a plurality ofwireless transponders 104 distributed in multiple locations in the datacenter 102 and a controller 106. The controller 106 is adapted tooperate the transponders 104 using triangulation to identify and detectpositioning according to three-dimensional coordinates forwireless-tagged IT equipment 108 located in the data center 102.

A typical system embodiment includes at least three wirelesstransponders 104 which are distributed at locations in the data center102 sufficient to use triangulation for determining three-dimensionalcoordinates of the IT equipment 108. Generally, suitable transponderlocations are separated by an appropriate amount to enable triangulationand are positioned to cover all or a suitable portion of the data center102.

The RFID triangulation system functions based on the principle of knownglobal positioning system (GPS) technology except that the RFID systemoperates internal to the data center 102. The RFID triangulation systemhas transponders 104 including multiple antennas, operating astransmitters, receivers, or combined transmitter-receivers positioned inappropriate locations throughout the data center 102. An IT equipmentitem 108 that is to be tracked and monitored has an affixed RFID tagwhich radiates a signal. The signal is detected by multiple receivingantennas. The individual antennas have known positions, enablingcomputation of the distance between the various antennas and the tag.The position at which the various computed radii intersect is thetriangulated location of the tag.

Some complexity in the RFID triangulation system results from limitedsignal-to-noise performance of the RFID tags and transponders. Largerantennas may be implemented to improve performance. Triangulation signalprocessing techniques may be used to address multiple-path difficulties.Signal processing techniques may be used to distinguish mainline-of-sight signals from superfluous reflected multiple path signals.Some configurations may use multiple antennas positioned throughout thedata center to create additional opportunities to detect transmittedsignals and determine tag locations.

Wireless tagging of IT equipment 108 enables resource tracking accordingto conditions detected using position and asset inventory monitoring.Continuous location monitoring enables a current resource mapping to bemaintained throughout the data center even for resources which are movedwithout authorization or knowledge. Resource monitoring enables trackingof failed resources and resources for which replacement is warranted.

The IT equipment 108 may encode spatial dimension information as part ofa wireless tag 110. The controller 106 can be configured to access thespatial dimension information and map the information along withlocation information. For example, the controller 106 may detect thevolume-space occupied by wireless-tagged IT equipment 108 and map thevolume-space in a three-dimensional descriptive mapping of the datacenter 102.

Various other types of information in addition to size and spatialdimension information may be read using the tags. For example, the tagmay include information such as product numbers, serial numbers, andother system-specific information. The tag 110 may be in the form of afield replaceable unit (FRU), enabling encoded information to beselected according to characteristics of the particular asset and usageconditions.

The various items of information technology (IT) equipment 108 mayinclude, for example, servers, host computers, storage arrays, storagecontrollers, or any of a myriad of different types of electronicequipment for usage in a data center 102. One or more wireless tags 110are attached to the IT equipment items 108. A storage 114, such as amemory, is connected to and associated with the wireless tag 110 andincludes a data structure field that characterizes physical dimensionsof the IT equipment item 108.

More than one wireless tag may be attached to the IT equipment 108. Thecontroller 106 may be further adapted to detect orientation of ITequipment 108 outfitted with multiple tags and located within the datacenter 102. The controller 106 detects orientation, also bytriangulation, based on detection of two or more wireless tags which areattached to the IT equipment 108 at locations separated sufficiently toenable discernment of orientation.

In some embodiments, the system 100 further comprises a graphical userinterface 112. The controller 106 may be configured to manage thegraphical user interface 112 to display a mapping describing the currentdata center configuration and positioning of IT equipment 108 within thedata center 102. The controller 106 may also be configured manage thegraphical user interface 112 and generate a real-time display ofinventory, location mapping, and size description of IT equipment 108within the data center 102.

Referring to FIG. 2, a schematic pictorial diagram illustrates anembodiment of an information technology (IT) equipment positioningsystem 200 for usage in a data center 202 that further comprises a robot216. The robot 216 operates in conjunction with a plurality of wirelesstransponders 204 to monitor and map information technology (IT)equipment 208. One or more robots 216 are adapted to carry at least onewireless transponder 204, patrol the data center 202, and determinepositioning of the IT equipment 208. The robot 216 can patrol hallwaysof the data center 202 so that a transponder reader 204 is positioned inclose proximity to the tags during patrolling. The robot 216 tracksposition during movement so that location of the IT equipment item isknown. A typical robot 216 is a goal-oriented robot controlled to patrola particular region. The robot 216 implements awareness of location andcan energize tags and report information, overcoming some of thesignal-to-noise complexities of triangulation systems.

Referring to FIG. 3, a schematic block diagram illustrates an embodimentof a radio frequency identification (RFID)-enabled electronic device 300comprising an item of information technology (IT) equipment 302 and atleast one radio frequency identifier (RFID) 304. A storage 306 iscoupled to the RFID 304 and includes a data structure fieldcharacterizing physical dimensions of the IT equipment item 302.

In various embodiments, the RFID 304 may be a passive RFID. In a passiveRFID system, an antenna is used to transmit a radio signal to the RFIDtag, which generates a signal that interferes with theantenna-transmitted radio signal in a known manner and reflects amodified signal back to the antenna. The passive RTID tag may beassociated with data, typically a small amount of data. In anillustrative embodiment, the data may encode information characterizingthe spatial dimensions and/or size of the chassis, housing, or packagingof an information technology (IT) equipment item. A passive RFID doesnot include a power source or battery so that operation and performancedepends on signal-to-noise ratio concepts. Read distance of a passiveRTID is limited, for example from a range of several centimeters to twoor three meters, so that telemetry range of the transponders istypically short or transponder antennas very large.

Passive RFID tags may also be implemented in a system that replacesfixed low-range readers with long-range readers with directionalantennas that sweep an area to identify objects based on an RFID code.Highly-sensitive electronics may be used to resolve faint signals atlonger distances. Advanced antennas with filtering systems that separatean RFID signal from background noise may be used to read from passiveRFID tags at longer distances.

In some embodiments, “Smart Antennas” may be used to facilitatetriangulation. Smart antennas are adaptive antenna arrays includingmultiple antennas cooperatively associated with processors thatcontinually readjust radio frequency signals from each of the antennasto create systems with precise directionality and a capability togreatly amplify detected signals. Smart antennas amplify weak signalsand determine the direction of a radio signal source. Furtherinformation concerning smart antenna systems is disclosed by MartinCooper and Marc Goulberg in “Intelligent Antennas: Spatial DivisionMultiple Access,” 1996 Annual Review of Communications, pp. 999-1002(www.arraycom.com/Company/spatial_division.pdf) and in various papersavailable at www.arraycom.com/Company/white_papers.html.

RFID tags can be read by multiple readers at different locations andtriangulation performed based on the arrival time of the signal todetermine the location of the RFID tag.

In other embodiments, the RFID 304 may be an active RFID. An active RFIDtag generally includes a power source and data is transmitted by theactive RFID tag at either a selected rate or upon activation by anantenna in a transponder. An active RFID enables transmission at longerdistances with a smaller transponder antenna. Usage of active RFID tagsenables higher read ranges. Low-cost batteries that are printable onpaper or film, for example available from PowerPaper of Einat, Israel(www.PowerPaper.com) or from Cymbet Corporation of Elk River, Minn.,described in “Thin-film Battery May Energize RFID,” RFID Journal, Oct.18, 2002 (www.rfidjournal.com/article/view/94) facilitate usage ofactive RFID tags. Active RFID tags enable higher frequency ranges, forexample in a range of about 2.5 to 24 gigahertz (GHz), or higher in thefuture. (See “Transforming Production with Tiny Transponders,” TimSchroder, Siemens Webzine, Oct. 31, 2002, atw4.siemens.de/Ful/en/archive/pof/heft2_(—)02/artikel05/). Ultra-lowpower electronics can be used in transponders to enable long distancetransmission and extra-high frequency, battery-operated transponderswith very long range, as high as several kilometers. The electronicsfurther facilitate triangulation by enabling measurement of distancesbetween a reader and transponder to accuracy in a range of 1 centimeter.Precise location of a transponder is performed by processing run-timedata from multiple readers. The extra-high frequency technology enablestransponders to be tracked even in conditions of GPS failure includinginterior to buildings or in canyons between tall buildings.

In one example of a location system that implements active RFID tags, atransponder locating system can be used to detect presence and locationof the tags. The triangulation system may be arranged as a matrix oflocating transponders that are installed at a suitable spacing withinthe data center. The locating transponders are managed to determinelocations of the RFID tags. A database is continuously updated withcurrent tag locations as frequently as is warranted by possible resourcemovement.

In some embodiments the RFID 304, either active or passive, may beconnected to and associated with a storage which includes a datastructure field that embeds at least one command line interface (CLI)code. Telcordia CLI codes for the telecommunications industry can beused in a technique by which a geographical location is assigned to aresource. The CLI codes are conventionally entered manually into a datasystem. CLI codes are subsequently accessed to determine billing oncommunications packets that travel through multiple regions, sites, andequipment, generally allocated to a particular enterprise or company.The system illustrated herein enables automated assignment of CLI codesto resources within a system.

Telcordia™ CLI codes enable flexible description of resource location.Location can be described as explicitly as a particular coordinatewithin a room or building, or as broadly as a system in a country.

Some implementations use multiple radio frequency identifiers (RFIDs)304 arranged on the IT equipment item 302 so that orientation of the ITequipment 302 item can be determined by triangulation. For example, twoRFID tags 304 may be mounted onto opposing corners of a server chassisand the location of each corner can be determined by triangulation. Thetwo RFID tags are encoded with different identification data, enablingthe location information determined for the tags to be correlated andthus orientation to be determined.

Referring to FIG. 4A, a flow chart illustrates an embodiment of a method400 for mapping information technology (IT) equipment in a data center.Actions of the method 400 comprise arranging 402 three or moretransponders in the data center and monitoring 404 wireless tag signalsfor tags coupled to and associated with IT equipment within the datacenter. Information technology (IT) equipment locations are mapped 406by triangulation of the monitored wireless tag signals. A real-timedynamic location mapping may be displayed 408 which describes thecurrent IT equipment configuration in the data center. The display maybe in the form of a full, three-dimensional block diagram of the datacenter.

In some embodiments 410, for example as shown in FIG. 4B, wireless tagscan be encoded 412 with information characterizing spatial packagedimensions of the IT equipment. The transponders can monitor not only todetermine the location of IT equipment, but also to acquire the spatialdimension tag information. Mapping 414 may be performed to map themonitored IT equipment dimensions in addition to IT equipment location.The real-time dynamic location and spatial dimension mapping may bedisplayed 416, describing a current configuration of IT equipment in thedata center.

Also in some implementations, the wireless tags may encode command lineinterface (CLI) codes associated with data center IT equipment. Thetransponders may be used to read the CLI codes.

The various functions, processes, methods, and operations performed orexecuted by the system can be implemented as programs that areexecutable on various types of processors, controllers, centralprocessing units, microprocessors, digital signal processors, statemachines, programmable logic arrays, and the like. The programs can bestored on any computer-readable medium for use by or in connection withany computer-related system or method. A computer-readable medium is anelectronic, magnetic, optical, or other physical device or means thatcan contain or store a computer program for use by or in connection witha computer-related system, method, process, or procedure. Programs canbe embodied in a computer-readable medium for use by or in connectionwith an instruction execution system, device, component, element, orapparatus, such as a system based on a computer or processor, or othersystem that can fetch instructions from an instruction memory or storageof any appropriate type. A computer-readable medium can be anystructure, device, component, product, or other means that can store,communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or inconnection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

The illustrative block diagrams and flow charts depict process steps orblocks that may represent modules, segments, or portions of code thatinclude one or more executable instructions for implementing specificlogical functions or steps in the process. Although the particularexamples illustrate specific process steps or acts, many alternativeimplementations are possible and commonly made by simple design choice.Acts and steps may be executed in different order from the specificdescription herein, based on considerations of function, purpose,conformance to standard, legacy structure, and the like.

Referring to FIG. 5, a schematic data structure diagram illustrates anembodiment of a database 500 stored on a computer-readable medium whichcan be used to store data relating to information technology (IT)equipment in a data center. The database 500 comprises a plurality ofdata fields configured to map the data center in a three-dimensionalspace. The data fields include transponder data fields 502 adapted forusage with the transponders in a wireless communication system that usestriangulation to determine three-dimensional position coordinates forwireless-tagged information technology (IT) equipment positioned in thedata center. The data fields further include location data fields 504adapted to identify location of the IT equipment within the data centerdetermined by triangulation. Spatial dimensional data fields 506 mayalso be included which are adapted to identify spatial dimensions of theIT equipment within the data center encoded in a wireless tag on the ITequipment.

Command data fields 508 may be included to store one or more commandline interface (CLI) codes which may be encoded in a wireless tag on theIT equipment and read using transponders.

Some embodiments may also include orientation data fields 510 adapted tostore orientation information determined using triangulation of two ormore wireless tags on information technology (IT) equipment.

Volume-space data fields 512 may be included and identify volume of theIT equipment within the data center encoded in a wireless tag on the ITequipment.

Referring to FIG. 6, a schematic pictorial diagram illustrates aperspective view of a data center 600 that implements an illustrativeresource monitoring system 602 adapted to map information technology(IT) equipment 604. The IT equipment may include, for example, one ormore servers, and may be monitored using information encoded in fieldreplaceable units (FRUs) and wireless positioning. A wirelesscommunication system 606, for example implementing radio frequencyidentifier (RFID) and global positioning system (GPS) technology,includes three or more transponders 608 distributed in suitablelocations in the data center 600.

The wireless communication system 606 may use triangulation to determinean accurate set of x, y, and z-coordinates describing the position of ITequipment 604 in the data center 600. The resource monitoring system 602may include a management application 610 which manages the various typesof information. The management application 610 includes manageabilityagents and manageability software to transmit coordinates in combinationwith information encoded in a field replaceable unit (FRU)electronically-erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) to thecentral management application or utility 610.

The management utility 610 can be used to automatically generate a fullmap of the data center 600 in real time.

In a particular embodiment, the transponders 608 may be interconnectedusing local area network (LAN) connections 612. A substantial amount ofsystem processing power can be implemented in the LAN connection 612 andthe transponders 608, enabling “dumb” implementations of IT equipment604 to be tracked by the central management utility 610.

A suitable management utility 610 may be used. For example, Openview™and System Insight Manager™ for Integrity™ servers both made availableby Hewlett-Packard Company of Palo Alto, Calif. may be implemented tohandle the information. Openview™ automates change and configurationmanagement of software across any computing device or platform toaccelerate service delivery, reduce operation costs, and improveservice. Openview™ enables information technology managers to addressbusiness priorities through increased visibility and control of clientsoftware. System Insight Manager™ performs hardware fault, asset, andconfiguration management for Hewlett-Packard systems and serversincluding delivery of rapid deployment and performance management, andworkload and partition management. System Insight Manager™ can beextended with management for clients, storage, printers and powerproducts, and can manage various platforms through industry standardmanagement protocols.

High-level applications such as Openview™, System Insight Manager™, orsimilar packages may be used to coordinate thermal monitoring and/orcontrol operations for a very large number, for example tens, hundreds,or more, servers, devices, and components. The high-level applicationcan aggregate information while enabling monitoring of particularelements, for example addressed as a particular server in a specificrack. The high-level application may also perform various operationssuch as load balancing, analysis of ventilation in the vicinity of arack, and control of CRAC and venting of perforated tiles.

The resource monitoring system 602 enables automated control andmanagement, improving accuracy over manual logging methods which arecurrently used. The resource monitoring system 602 reduces or minimizeshuman intervention, thereby reducing or eliminating mistakes.

The management utility 610 may use the resource location informationdetermined by monitoring tags on the IT equipment 604 and the resourcespatial dimension information also accessed from the tags, to manage theIT equipment 604 in the data center 600. The management utility 610 mayuse the location and/or size information in combination with othermonitored parameters to allocate resources according to variousconsiderations such as system cooling, airflow, workload efficiency, andthe like. The management utility 610 monitors the location and size ofIT equipment, and may further monitor operations of the equipment,taking into consideration capacity and capabilities of the equipment.

The management utility 610 may detect conditions, such as temperatureand airflow conditions, for which repositioning of IT equipment itemsmay improve performance. For example, a particular IT equipment item mayperform for optimally in a higher airflow condition. The managementutility 610 may detect the location of the item and determine that thelocation is in a low-airflow portion of the data center 600. The utility610 may generate a notification message, for example via a graphicaluser interface, informing of a better resource configuration. Themanagement utility 610 may further determine the position of vacantcabinet or rack locations to which IT equipment resources may be movedto improve performance.

The management utility 610 can use spatial dimension information encodedin the wireless tags to enable mapping of available slots in racks andcabinets, as well as occupied slots. The management utility 610 can mapeach IT equipment item in a cabinet and determine the number of occupiedslots in the rack. A database accessible to the management utility 610may store information relating to the capacity of the individual racksin the data center 600, which can be compared to the map of occupiedslots to determine slot space left available for equipment which maysubsequently be added. In a typical configuration, equipment is commonlya constant width and depth so that the encoded size informationdescribes the height in U units. The management utility 610 tracks theIT equipment in three dimensions so that the height of IT equipmentitems and the height of vacant slots can be mapped.

The management utility 610 can use the dimensional information togenerate an automated three-dimensional picture of resources. TheTelcordia™ Command Line Interface (CLI) codes can be used to supplementthe resource picture.

In some embodiments, the racks or cabinets may also be tagged, forexample to describe capacity, enabling the data center database toautomatically update when new racks are installed.

Referring to FIG. 7, a schematic pictorial diagram illustrates anembodiment of a resource mapping system 700 including a transpondersystem 702 constructed of a rack 704 adapted to hold multiple ITequipment items 706. The rack 704 has a door 708. An extended lengthprinted circuit board 710 is mounted on the rack door 708. Multiplesensors 712 are aligned and arranged on the printed circuit board 710,for example with a regular spacing. Some embodiments may have sensorsmounted differently and arranged in other patterns.

One or more wireless tags 714, for example radio frequencyidentification (RFID) tags, are attached to the IT equipment items 706.In the illustrative arrangement, the RFID tags are intentionallyimplemented with limited sensitivity over long distances because thesensors 712 have a close spacing and the tags are intended to activateonly the limited sensors 712 at close range. The illustrative sensorconfiguration is capable of determining position of the IT equipmentitems but cannot effectively determine IT equipment item size becauseonly a single tag is mounted on the equipment item. Accordingly, in theillustrative embodiment the tag is embedded with information identifyingequipment item size.

While the present disclosure describes various embodiments, theseembodiments are to be understood as illustrative and do not limit theclaim scope. Many variations, modifications, additions and improvementsof the described embodiments are possible. For example, those havingordinary skill in the art will readily implement the steps necessary toprovide the structures and methods disclosed herein, and will understandthat the process parameters, materials, and dimensions are given by wayof example only. The parameters, materials, and dimensions can be variedto achieve the desired structure as well as modifications, which arewithin the scope of the claims. Variations and modifications of theembodiments disclosed herein may also be made while remaining within thescope of the following claims. For example, a few specific examples oftransponder arrangements and techniques for monitoring are described.The illustrative resource monitoring techniques can be used with anysuitable types of sensors and sensed parameters. Although the tag may betermed a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, but may be based ontechnology other than radio frequency technology. For example, a tag maybe implemented to be read by other technology, such as magnetic,opto-magnetic, optical, or other technology. The sensor technologytypically has sensors physically separated from the tags, although insome implementations, the sensors and tags may be in contact. Tags maybe passive or active and may be implemented either with or withoutcomputing or processing capability. The illustrative techniques may beused with any suitable data center configuration and with any suitableservers, computers, and devices.

What is claimed is:
 1. A radio frequency identification (RFID)-enabledelectronic device comprising: an item of information technology (IT)equipment that is mounted at a first location corresponding to arespective slot in racks and/or cabinets of a data center; a pluralityof radio frequency identifier (RFID) tags; and a storage coupled to theRFID including a data structure field that characterizes physicaldimensions of the IT equipment item used by a management utility incombination with temperature conditions and airflow conditions withinthe data center to determine positioning of the IT equipment item in asecond location corresponding to a different respective slot in theracks and/or the cabinets of the data center to improve cooling,airflow, and workload efficiency performance relative to the firstlocation based on the orientation of said plurality of tags, wherein thepositioning of the IT equipment item includes three dimensionalcoordinates of the IT equipment in three dimensional space.
 2. TheRFID-enabled electronic device according to claim 1 further comprising:the storage coupled to the RFID including a data structure field thatembeds at least one command line interface (CLI) code.
 3. TheRFID-enabled electronic device according to claim 1 whereby orientationof the IT equipment item can be determined by triangulation of saidplurality of tags.
 4. The RFID-enabled electronic device according toclaim 1 further comprising: at least one active radio frequencyidentifier (RFID).
 5. The RFID-enabled electronic device according toclaim 1 further comprising: at least one passive radio frequencyidentifier (RFID).
 6. An information technology (IT) equipmentpositioning system for usage in a data center comprising: a plurality ofwireless transponders distributed in multiple locations in the datacenter; a controller coupled to the plurality of wireless transpondersthat operates the transponders using triangulation to identify anddetect positioning according to three-dimensional coordinates forwireless-tagged IT equipment mounted in locations corresponding to slotsin racks and/or cabinets located in the data center, the controllerusing information including the physical dimensions of the IT equipmentin combination with temperature conditions and airflow conditions withinthe data center to determine different locations corresponding todifferent respective slots in the racks and/or the cabinets in the datacenter for mounting the IT equipment to position the IT equipment toimprove cooling, airflow, and workload efficiency performance relativeto the locations corresponding to slots in racks and/or cabinets locatedin the data center, wherein at least two tags are associated with the ITequipment to determine the position that includes three dimensionalcoordinates of the IT equipment in three dimensional space.
 7. Thesystem according to claim 6 further comprising: the controller furtherdetecting a volume-space occupied by wireless-tagged IT equipmentmounted into slots of a rack or cabinet located in the data centeraccording to dimension information encoded in association with awireless tag of the IT equipment.
 8. The system according to claim 6further comprising: a graphical user interface; and the controller thatdisplays via the graphical user interface a mapping describing a currentdata center configuration and positioning of IT equipment within thedata center.
 9. The system according to claim 6 further comprising: thecontroller further detecting orientation of wireless-tagged IT equipmentmounted into slots of a rack or cabinet located in the data center basedon detection of at least two wireless tags attached to separatedsurfaces of the IT equipment.
 10. The system according to claim 6further comprising: a graphical user interface; and the controllerdisplaying via the graphical user interface a real-time inventory,location mapping, and size description of IT equipment within the datacenter.
 11. The system according to claim 6 further comprising: at leastthree wireless transponders distributed at locations in the data centersufficient to use triangulation for determining three-dimensionalcoordinates of the IT equipment.
 12. The system according to claim 6further comprising: at least one robot adapted to mount at least onewireless transponder, patrol the data center, and determine positioningof the IT equipment.
 13. The system according to claim 6 furthercomprising: an item of information technology (IT) equipment that mountsinto slots in racks and/or cabinets of the data center; at least onewireless tag coupled to the item of IT equipment.
 14. A database storedon a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising: a plurality ofdata fields configured to map a data center in a three-dimensionalspace, the plurality of data fields including: transponder data fieldsadapted for usage with at least three transponders in a wirelesscommunication system that uses triangulation to determinethree-dimensional position coordinates for wireless-tagged informationtechnology (IT) equipment positioned in the data center; location datafields adapted to identify a first location of the IT equipmentcorresponding to a respective slot in racks and/or cabinets within thedata center determined by triangulation; dimensional data fields adaptedto identify spatial dimensions of the IT equipment mounted in racksand/or cabinets within the data center encoded in a wireless tag on theIT equipment based on orientation of a plurality of tags, wherein thedimensional data fields are used by a management utility to determinepositioning of the IT equipment item in a second location correspondingto a different respective slot in the racks and/or the cabinets of thedata center to improve cooling, airflow, and workload efficiencyperformance relative to the first location based on the orientation ofsaid plurality of tags; and orientation data fields adapted to storeinformation of an orientation according to three dimensional coordinatesof the IT equipment determined using triangulation of at least twowireless tags in at least two positions on the IT equipment in the datacenter.
 15. The database according to claim 14 wherein the data fieldsfurther include: command data fields adapted to store at least onecommand line interface (CLI) code encoded in a wireless tag on the ITequipment.
 16. The database according to claim 14 wherein the datafields further include: volume-space data fields adapted to identifyvolume of the IT equipment within the data center encoded in a wirelesstag on the IT equipment.
 17. A method of mapping information technology(IT) equipment in a data center comprising: distributing at least threetransponders in the data center; monitoring, via the at least threetransponders, wireless tag signals for tags coupled to and associatedwith IT equipment mounted into slots in racks and/or cabinets within thedata center; determining orientation information that definesorientation of the IT equipment in three dimensions using triangulationof the tags coupled to and associated with the IT equipment; mapping ITequipment location corresponding to a volume-space occupied by the ITequipment in the slots in the racks and/or the cabinets within the datacenter by triangulation of the monitored wireless tag signals; and usinginformation including physical dimensions of an IT equipment item incombination with temperature conditions and airflow conditions withinthe data center to determine positioning of the information technologyequipment in a different location corresponding to different respectivevolume-space occupiable by the IT equipment in different slots in theracks and/or the cabinets within the data center to improve performanceof the data center.
 18. The method according to claim 17 furthercomprising: encoding the tags with information characterizing spatialpackage dimensions of the IT equipment; monitoring, via the at leastthree transponders, the spatial dimension tag information; and mappingthe monitored IT equipment dimensions.
 19. The method according to claim18 further comprising: displaying a real-time dynamic location andspatial dimension mapping describing a current configuration of ITequipment mounted in the data center.
 20. The method according to claim17 further comprising: displaying a real-time dynamic location mappingdescribing a current configuration of IT equipment mounted in the datacenter.
 21. The method according to claim 17 further comprising:monitoring, via the at least three transponders, at least one commandline interface (CLI) code encoded in a tag coupled to and associatedwith IT equipment within the data center.
 22. An article of manufacturecomprising: a controller usable medium having a computable readableprogram code embodied therein for mapping information technology (IT)equipment in a data center, the controller to: distribute at least threetransponders in the data center; monitor, via the at least threetransponders, wireless tag signals for tags coupled to and associatedwith IT equipment mounted into slots in racks and/or cabinets within thedata center; map IT equipment location corresponding to a volume-spaceoccupied by the IT equipment in the slots in the racks and/or thecabinets by triangulation of the monitored wireless tag signals, whereinthe location includes three dimensional coordinates of the IT equipmentin three dimensional space; and use information including physicaldimensions of an IT equipment item in combination with temperatureconditions and airflow conditions within the data center to determinepositioning the information technology equipment in a different locationcorresponding to a different volume-space occupied by the IT equipmentin different respective slots in the racks and/or the cabinets in thedata center to improve performance of the data center.
 23. The articleof manufacture according to claim 22, wherein the controller: encodesthe tags with information characterizing spatial package dimensions ofthe IT equipment; monitors, via the at least three transponders, thespatial dimension tag information; and maps the monitored IT equipmentdimensions.